FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEANDERSON UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATIONWednesday, March 19, 2014

TRACK AND FIELD TO OPEN OUTDOOR SLATE AT CHARLOTTE

ANDERSON, S.C. – After wrapping up their indoor season nearly four weeks ago, the Anderson University men’s and women’s track and field teams are slated to open their respective outdoor seasons at the 49er Classic, hosted by Charlotte at the Irwin Belk Track & Field facility this week.

Junior Jill Baxter will open the events for the Trojans, as the Denver, N.C. native is scheduled to compete in the heptathlon, beginning at 11 a.m. on Thursday and continuing through Friday, while the other events will begin at 11 a.m. on Friday and wrap up late Saturday afternoon.

Last year’s 49er Classic attracted nearly 50 programs from across the nation, with Baxter claiming 11th in the heptathlon. With four events on the opening day a year ago, Baxter used a personal-best distance of 8.87 meters in the shot put to finish sixth in the event. She placed seventh in the high jump at 1.48 meters and 14th in the 200 meters in a time of 28.15 seconds. Her time of 18.89 seconds in the 100 meter hurdles was good enough for 17th.

On the final day, Baxter tied for 17th in the long jump with a distance of 4.57 meters and brought home fifth in the javelin throw with a toss of 26.69 meters. She closed the event with a 12th-place finish in the 800 meter run.

The Trojan women’s team wrapped up its indoor season at the one-day Gamecock Invitational on Feb. 22, with 16 top-10 finishes, including two first-place efforts. Junior Sydney Hazel won the mile run, while freshman Olivia Gardner claimed first place in the 3000 meter run.

Freshman Sherin Malone crossed the line in third in the 55 meter hurdles, with freshman Megan Shahoud, and Baxter finishing third and fourth, respectively, in the high jump. Shahoud also placed third in the long jump. In the throwing events, junior Brooklyn Watt placed fifth in the shot put and fifth in the weight throw. Fellow junior Savanna Keese earned fourth in the weight throw, while sophomore D'Yandra Morris was ninth in the shot put.

Malik Brown captured second in the 55 meter hurdles, with freshman Jonathan Shorter finishing third. Freshman Philip DeGraaf was seventh in the pole vault and freshman Eric Hoover was ninth in the long jump.